U.S. building materials, getting scarcer all the time, were earmarked for defense last week. Builders of small homes (costing up to $6,000 or renting up to $50 a month) in 275 areas where new housing is needed for defense workers were given priorities on materials. The priorities, all in the A series, will apply to 200,000 privately financed units and to 100,000 others financed by the Government.
This means that residential builders in other areas, or specialists in higher-priced housing, may be virtually out of business for the duration. Non-defense housing started before Sept. 1 will get a B priority...